//------------------------------// // The Perfect Festival // Story: Human Roadtrip // by MyAwesomePony //------------------------------// It was one beautiful day in the town of Ponyville, and everypony was just having a splendid time as they went about their business. Lukas, the only human in Equestria, was taking a walk in the friendly town with a backpack. "ROAD TRIP!" Shouted Pinkie, startling Lukas "Okay, not technically a road trip, because we're taking that." She pointed towards the hot air balloon in the distance. "Holy.... Pinkie, warn me next time before you do that." Lukas exclaimed, obviously not pleased by that scare "Sorry, Lukas. I'm just excited." Pinkie explained. Before Lukas could say anything else, Rainbow Dash flew past them quickly, causing both of them to spin rapidly. After Lukas finally maintained the ground again, he felt a little queasy. "Beat ya to the balloon!" Rainbow boasted to the two. "Nope!, I'm gonna beat you" Pinkie said as they both raced off. "I'm gonna beat both of you." Lukas cried, chasing after them. Lukas struggled to catch up to them since they had a bigger head start. Pinkie continued to hum whilst running next to Rainbow Dash, but as Lukas was about to catch up to them, they all saw something in the distance, they say Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity already in the balloon. "Howdy." Applejack said innocently. Rainbow and Pinkie tripped over each other and ended up being rolled around together as Lukas follows behind and beats them as they both skidded towards them. Rainbow, acting cool, flew off Pinkie. "Okay, I was fifth." Rainbow admitted. "Yeah, well, I was sixth." Pinkie hummed and Rainbow looked dumbfounded. "That's not even-" Rainbow protested, but couldn't find the right words as Pinkie celebrated. "But I beat you." "Guys, give it a rest." Lukas panted out, entering the balloon. "Yeah." Applejack agreed. "We gotta shove off soon, or we'll miss the tailwind." She opened up the balloon door and Pinkie hopped in. "Don't worry." Said Fluttershy. "We wouldn't have left without you." "Well that goes without saying, darling." Rarity pointed out." After all, Rainbow Dash is the guest of honor at the Rainbow Festivial." Rarity pointed towards Rainbow and she flew around the balloon for a bit and then struck a pose. Meanwhile, Lukas was leaning over the balloon, panting. "Ya'll alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Yeah, It's just hard catching up to you guys." Lukas said, still panting. "Has anypony seen Twilight? It's not like her to be late for an adventure." Fluttershy questioned the whereabouts of the bookworm, but then heard a voice in the distance. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Twilight called out. Papers flew out of her saddlebag as Spike followed behind her holding up a bag of papers. "Sorry." Twilight said, running up to the balloon. "I just had to pack up a few books and papers to grade." "And by "few", she means "slightly less than I'm able to lift!" Spike grunted, dropping the bag. "Wait, you're bringing work to a festival?" Rainbow inquired the unicorn. "Come on Twilight, try to have some fun." Lukas advised, slowly regaining his breath. "Yeah, it's supposed to be a nonstop fun-o-rama party!" Pinkie cried as she hugged Fluttershy. Everypony agreed with Pinkie as Twilight started to mark some of the papers. She looks up. "Grading papers is fun." Twilight said. "It's relaxing and rewarding and-" Before she could continue, Applejack interrupted her. "Too much to talk about right now" Applejack said as she pulled a string, and the balloon flame sparked up. Spike strained as he carried the bag full of papers onto the balloon and dropped it, he sighed heavily, thankful that all the weight was gone. Twilight jumps in. "Keep an eye on things for me, and feel free to file those class assignments while I'm gone." Twilight instructed Spike. "It's my top priority." Spike said as he untied the balloon. "Have fun everybody." He called out as everyone waved goodbye, but just as they were about 10 inches above the ground, the balloon completely stops. Everyone was confused. "Uh... What happened to the balloon?" Asked Lukas. "Yeah." Agreed Fluttershy." Why aren't we moving." "Hmm, the bag's to heavy." Applejack thought. "Rarity." Rainbow asked, thinking she was responsible. "How dare you! I brought the itsy-est valise!" Rarity presented her bag "It's defiantly Twilight's bag." Lukas pointed out. "Sorry to do this Twilight, but." Applejack didn't continue. Instead, she grabbed Twilight's bag with her teeth and flung it off the balloon. "My papers!" Twilight cried as the bag plops on Spike, he gives a weak thumbs up. "They'll keep 'til we get back." Applejack said. "Applejack is right, Twilight." Lukas agreed as Twilight sadly groans. As the balloon flew further away, they all said their goodbyes to Spike. "Miss us." Rainbow said. "Bye bye." Pinkie cheerfully grinned. "See you later, Spike." Lukas waves. "Keep an eye on things." Twilight repeated. "See ya! And remember, whatever happens at the Rainbow Festival, I wanna hear all about it when you get back!" Spike said as they continue to say their goodbyes. The balloon drifted peacefully through the sky. A bird landed on Fluttershy's hoof and then there were a whole lot of birds on Twilight. As they flew away, Twilight and Fluttershy giggled. As the balloon continue to drift slowly across the lake, Rainbow Dash was amazed by the view. Lukas was reading a book and Rarity was doing her hooves. "Did somepony mention something about a spa in... where is it we're going again?" Rarity asked and Rainbow answered. "Hope Hollow, or as I like to call it." She says as she flies out of the balloon. "Rainbow Dash Fan Central." "You're gonna be like this the whole trip, ain't ya?" Applejack sighed. "Uh, she's Rainbow Dash. What did you expect?" Lukas asked. "Lukas is right. I mean, look at this letter. They love me there." Rainbow sighed as Twilight read out the letter. "Dear Rainbow Dash, thank you for agreeing to be our guest at this year's famous Hope Hollow Rainbow Festival." Twilight read out. "The many members of your fan club..." Before Twilight could continue, Rainbow dash cleared her throat, indicating that she has a fanclub. Applejack sighed and Lukas rolled his eyes and Twilight continued reading. "are looking forward to your visit. You and your friends will be staying at our famous luxury Rainbow Resort and Spa, where your every whim will be catered to." "Oh well, I accept that challenge. I have so many whims." Rarity said as she flickered her eyes. "Oh look." Fluttershy pointed out. "There's a famous butterfly garden, too." "And show off your true art skills at the art contest. That seems perfect for me." Lukas said. "Hmm. Y'know, it's strange that we never heard of this festival before." Twilight said, noticing something fishy about this whole deal. "Especially since everything in the town is so well-known." "Yeah." Lukas agreed. "And the fact that we traveled all around Equestria to try to find the Hippogriffs." "Lukas does has a point." Applejack admitted as Rainbow dash read the letter. "At this year's festival, you can eat treats at the traditional Rainbow Bakery Booth, sing your favorite rainbow-themed songs at the karaoke competition." As she said that, Pinkie looked quite interested in the offer. "Bakery and karaoke?! It's like they see into my soul!" Pinkie sighed as Lukas pointed out something else. "and try our famous rainbow trout catch-and-release activity." Huh. Now that sounds right up my river." Applejack admitted. "Uh... guys. Doesn't this seem convenient to you?" Lukas asked the colorful group. "What do you mean?" Fluttershy wondered as he explained. "Well, everything there is a specific thing that each of us like, doesn't that sound a little bit fishy." "Now that I think about it. That is an excellent point." Twilight agreed. "Nonsense." Rainbow said as she put a hoof over Lukas' shoulders. "You worry too much, Lukas. I'm sure it's fine." "Well, if you say so." Lukas said. "Plus, we get to watch the mayor give Rainbow Dash an award!" Pinkie announced as she brought out her party cannon. "I call dibs on the cheering section!" Pinkie squeals and blasted the party cannon. Everyone was covered in confetti. "Pinkie, did you really have to bring your party cannon?" Lukas asked, deadpanned as Pinkie nodded before Lukas realized something. "Wait a minute, how is the balloon holding up the-" Before he could continue, he stopped himself. "Never question Pinkie Pie. "An award for what, exactly?" Rarity questioned the Pegasus. "I dunno. Showing up? General coolness? All of the above?" Rainbow laughed. "Well, we're so glad you brought us along." Twilight said. "Yeah, I've been looking for a new adventure." Lukas exclaimed. "It's gonna be one long party, which starts... now!" Pinkie gathered everyone together and started to sing A hundred bottles of pop on the wall A hundred bottles of pop The others joined in. Take one down, pass it around Ninety-nine bottles of pop on the wall Ninety-nine bottles of pop on the wall Ninety-nine bottles of pop. At night time, Pinkie was continuing the song but everyone else looked tired. Two bottles of pop on the wall Two bottles of pop Take it down, pass it around One bottle of pop on the wall "And a one more time!" Pinkie cried and started from the beginning. A hundred bottles of pop on the wall Before she could sing anymore. Rainbow covered her mouth with her hoof, signaling her to stop. "Six times too many?" Pinkie asked innocently, getting the message as Rainbow sighed. "Shouldn't we be there by now?" She wondered. "I told you we should've turned left at that last tree." Lukas called out. "Ooh, it's getting darker by the minute." Fluttershy whimpered as Lukas patted her on the back. "There there, Fluttershy. It's gonna be okay." Lukas assured her. "Oh dear. I sure hope so." Fluttershy whispered. "I can't see anything!" Rarity cried as Applejack took her sleeping mask off. Rarity looked embarrassed. "I spy with my little eye, a rainbow." Pinkie said. "Great, we're playing that game now?" She asked, thinking that she was referring to her. "No, No, I really do spy a rainbow!" Pinkie pointed out. As Pinkie said, there was indeed a rainbow. Everyone gasped. "I've never seen a rainbow at night before. It looks so majestic." Lukas marveled at. "And we're headed right for it!" Rarity cried. "Don't worry, we'll pas right through it. Rainbows aren't solid." Rainbow explained, but to their surprise, it actually was solid as they bashed into it. "Tell that to the rainbow." Applejack worriedly exclaimed. "I don't think that's a rainbow. It's a rainbow billboard!" Twilight cried. "And it's gonna drop on us!" Lukas called out. "Oh no!" Fluttershy quietly said. "Hang on everybody." She instructed as everyone ducked, except Applejack as the rainbow struck the balloon. Everyone was screaming in terror. Pinkie was blowing on the balloon flame frantically. "I don't think that's working!" Rarity cried. "We're gonna crash!" Applejack called out. Everyone screamed once again as they plummeted towards their death. To Be Continued.....